Purple Pipe Washing Machine Kit

ABSTRACT

This invention harvests abundant, highly usable washing machine rinse cycle water for irrigation and other uses. This is accomplished using two separate devices working together; it is comprised of a valve assembly (FIG.  2 B), for diverting this rinse water to a collector and the collector ( 10 ) which improves the quality of the water, then distributes it. By closing a single valve ( 7 ) during the rinse cycle, the user is effectively watering the landscaping. The rinse water is regenerated during normal household washing so it is not dependent on rain. It does not use power nor does it depend on filters or storing water. It reduces the amount of city water required as well as reducing the volume of waste water generated.

REFERENCES CITED U. S. Patent Documents

6,969,460 Olson 210/130 7,267,235 Sharir 210/413 8,201,581 George137/876 8,372,274 Early, et al 210/86 7,040,340 Jeltsch, et al 137/2555,573,677 Dembrosky 210/764 5,192,426 DeCoster et al 210/117

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I am a pipefitter by trade and I began to start thinking about ways tosave water about twenty years ago. I made some early prototypes of waterharvesters, but water was viewed as cheap and plentiful so I shelved theidea. When I moved here in 2006, North Carolina was in a droughtcondition and I made some prototypes using clear plastic boxes andbuckets to observe the hydraulic action. Later, when I heard on the newsthat there were extraordinary droughts in Texas and elsewhere, I thoughtI might try again in earnest. This invention is the result.

The greywater harvesting systems that I had seen contained good ideas,such as using greywater to flush toilets, but there are problemsinherent in dual water supply fixtures like backflow protection andfilter maintenance. Reclaimed water systems using purple piping dependon harvesting diverse grey water and sending it to a treatment plant.Then the water is treated and pumped back to the customer. Thisinvention harvests only clean rinse water from a washing machine anduses it immediately for irrigation. This invention does not needmaintenance, use power, filters, large tanks or extra pumps as in a carwash. It is not dependent on rain nor does it store water, so it doesnot foster stagnant water type growth as in a rain barrel and it isvermin resistant. The only moving part is the diverter valve.

Advantages

The benefit to society by the use of The “Doogie Box” Water Reclamationand Reuse System is significant. The Box was created to help address theneed for more effective water management. I have seen no other systemthat attempts to harvest only abundant, high quality washing machinerinse water, which allows a simple system to harvest and distribute thiswater for irrigation. The benefit to the individual in society is toreduce his use of city water, reduce the amount of wastewater he sendsto the treatment plant and lower the cost of his monthly utility bills.The benefit to society as a whole is the cumulative benefit that reducesthe demands on overtaxed utilities. The benefit to our habitat is we aresupporting the growth of green plants, which supports the water cycleand the regeneration of aquifers. The root systems of these plants helpto anchor topsoil.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is designed to harvest the rinse water from a clotheswashing machines and other washing machines in a new and unique way foruse in irrigation and other washing. It consists of two main elementsworking together; a diverter assembly and a collector that distributesthe harvested water. The diverter assembly is comprised of a plumbingtee that is installed on the top of the standpipe that accepts thewasher discharge. The diverter valve is installed on the downstream portof the tee. During the rinse cycle the valve is closed, redirecting thewaste/rinse water to piping through the wall, outside to a collector.This collector accepts the discharge from a typical domestic washerrinse cycle and immediately starts a slow release for irrigation. Thecollector uses the inlet pipe as a baffle to reduce the force of theinfluent and to direct the water downward. The collector discharge ellfaces downward, accepting the water from below the surface of thecollected water; thus trapping any residual soap suds which float. Theell is slightly above the bottom of the tank to exclude the small amountof solids which sink and uses only the middle part of the water columnfor irrigation or other uses. The irrigated plant system supports thewater cycle without using any additional city water as well as reducingthe amount of waste water to the city sewer and delaying construction ofgrey water treatment plants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(All piping and fittings are thin walled, schedule 40, PVC unlessotherwise noted. All parts are shown on 4/4) The Invention consists of a1″ plumbing tee (FIG. 2B #5 a.) used to divert water from the rinsecycle of a washing machine (FIG. 2A #A1,) to a collector (FIG. 3-4 #20)for reuse in irrigation instead of going to the city sewer. A plastic1½″ FPT X F glue, knife blade valve (FIG. 2B #2), whose handle faces theuser, is used to provide a full port for the 1″ pipe for dischargingwash water to the standpipe (FIG. 2B #A3) when in the open position. Amanual valve is used because it is much cheaper than an electrical valveand does not add the unwanted leverage of a ball valve on the piping andit does not require an electrician. (If a domestic dishwasher is used,the discharge hose is about ½″.) An 1½″ MPT X 1″ FPT bushing (4/4 #1 b.)is screwed into the bottom of the knife blade valve and the height isadjusted by tightening the threads. Four horizontal, ¼″ holes aredrilled into this fitting to maintain the indirect waste air admittance.An 1″ MPT nipple (4/4, FIG. 2B #1 a.) is screwed into the bottom of thisfitting to facilitate insertion into the standpipe; also with 4horizontal holes. On top of the run, or straight line through the tee,is a 1″ connecting nipple (FIG. 2B #6). A PVC elbow (FIG. 2B #7 a.) isconnected to the top of the nipple. This elbow accepts the washerdischarge hose (FIG. 2B #A2) and faces the washer. A standard 1″ clotheswashing machine discharge hose (FIG. 2A, 2B #A2) has an outside diameterequal to that of a schedule 40—1″ PVC pipe so it fits neatly intoreceptor ell 7 a. The bull, or side port of the tee (FIG. 2B #5 a.)faces the outside wall and is connected to a 1″ PVC pipe (FIG. 2B #9 a.)which channels the water outside, to the collector, when the valve (#2.)is closed by the user. Pipe #9 a passes through an 1¼″ nipple (4/4 #10.)to protect it from the wall. The outside opening is sealed with a beadof caulk. Outside a 35 gallon horizontal drum (FIG. 3A #20) is used toaccept the rinse water through an 1½″ inlet opening (FIG. 3A #16)drilled in the top, outside perimeter of the drum, on the opposite sideof the discharge port (FIG. 3A #21). The inlet pipe to the drum (FIG. 3B#19) is increased to 1½″ pipe to reduce the force of the washerdischarge entering the drum and to direct the water downward. The inlet(16) is sealed with caulk to prevent vermin from entering or gas fromescaping. The drum has a 5″ FT removable cap (FIG. 3A #17) to allowaccess for rinsing. This cap has a ¼″ spring check valve in the center.The restricted flow allows the drum time to do its job; which is tocatch any residual, floating suds (FIG. 3B) above the discharge weir andto settle any remaining solids below the discharge weir (FIG. 3B)allowing the cleanest, highly usable residual water for irrigation andother uses like car washing, to emerge from the discharge port (FIG. 3A#20). The harvested rinse water is of high quality to begin with becauseit excludes wash water which may contain soap, bleach or othercontaminants. Using dryer sheets keeps fabric softener out of the rinsewater. A ¾″ MPT X M garden hose fitting (FIG. 3C #27) is screwed intothe ¾″ FPT bulkhead fitting (FIG. 3A #24) at the discharge port. Asoaker hose (FIG. 3C #28) is connected to the hose fitting and awatering ring (FIG. 3C #29) is connected to the end of the hose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The first drawing, 1/4, is a complete depiction of the entire system forthe purpose of inclusion on the front page of the patent applicationpublication and patent as the illustration of the invention. FIG. 1.

In the second drawing, 2/4, FIG. 2A is designed to show the location ofthe directional valve and FIG. 2B shows an exploded view of the valveassembly.

In the third drawing, 3/4, FIG. 3A shows the collector. FIG. 3B showsthe collector cap and the location of the check valve vent (#17 a). FIG.3C shows an exploded view of the collector and distribution hose.

The fourth drawing, 4/4, shows every part in an exploded view.

I claim:
 1. A vessel with ports which accepts greywater discharge at aprimary inlet port and allows said greywater discharge to pass throughsaid vessel exiting through a primary discharge port to waste piping andis redirected through a secondary discharge port for further use.
 2. Aprimary valve which allows the flow of said greywater discharge throughsaid primary discharge port to said waste piping when in the openposition and redirects flow through said secondary discharge port whenin the closed position.
 3. A collector with ports which accepts saidgreywater discharge through a secondary inlet port directing flowthrough said collector exiting a tertiary discharge port for furtheruse.
 4. The collector in claim 3 with a baffle in said collector whichredirects said greywater discharge.
 5. The collector in claim 3 with anair admittance port.
 6. A vent on the piping connecting said primaryvalve to said collector to facilitate water flow.
 7. The collector inclaim 3 with said tertiary discharge port supplying distribution piping.8. A method of harvesting greywater comprising: (a) providing saidvessel with ports for accepting greywater discharge. (b) providing saidvessel with ports for allowing flow of greywater discharge. (c)providing said primary valve for directing flow of greywater discharge.(d) closing said primary valve to redirect the flow of greywaterdischarge. (e) opening said primary valve to allow the flow of greywaterdischarge to said waste piping. whereby said primary valve can be closedto redirect greywater discharge for further use and can be opened toallow flow of greywater discharge to said waste piping.